Taiwanese Intelligence Warns Of Possible Mainland Internet Attack

TAIPEI, Mar 6, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) A top Taiwanese intelligence official Monday refused to rule out the possibility China could launch an Internet attack against the island's computer networks ahead of its presidential polls, and called for increased vigilance.

Chang Kuang-yuan, who heads the National Security Bureau's information division, said there was no evidence the mainland was planning a comprehensive computer attack in the wake of its latest threats.

"But no hacking at the moment does not suggest the possibility should be ruled out," Chang told a public hearing at the parliament.

China's military newspaper Monday warned that millions of troops were on "high alert" and ready to strike if the island moved towards independence.

This followed hawkish comments by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and a White Paper from Beijing last week issuing an ultimatum on reunification.

Chang recalled a wave of computer attacks from the mainland after President Lee Teng-hui in July said he wanted to deal with Beijing on the terms of a "special state-to-state relationship."

He said the security bureau's information network was exposed to 7,200 hacking attempts from more than 100 Chinese websites during that period.

He said local computer systems must be armed with "firewalls" and other security. The island's second democratic polls are set for March 18.

The websites of several Taiwanese government agencies, including the Control Yuan, the Pingtung county government, the cabinet-level Construction and Planning and Administration, and several universities, were ruined on August 8 by viruses introduced from the mainland.

Local hackers later fought back, and television here showed Taiwan's national flag and national anthem posted on the website of the Chinese railway ministry.

In its White Paper, Beijing warned Taiwan for the first time it must not indefinitely postpone reunification talks, or else face an invasion.

Jiang, in a speech Saturday, stood fully behind the tougher policy.

"If the Taiwan authorities refuse for an unlimited period to agree to a peaceful settlement of cross-straits reunification through negotiations, then the Chinese government will be forced to adopt all drastic measures possible," he said.

Beijing has regarded Taiwan as a breakaway province awaiting reunification since their separation in 1949 at the end of a civil war. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

http://www.insidechina.com/news.php3?id=140470

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 06, 2000